LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER

LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER is a competition barbecue team with 67 Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS) contests on record between 2013 and 2019. Their best overall finish is 2nd of 29 at the Beltway BBQ Showdown (2017), and they have finished Reserve Grand Champion twice. They are ranked #435 of 6,491 teams in the KCBS power rankings.

⚔ Compare with another team

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

#435

of 6,491 rated · rankings

Rating

1691

peak 1733 · rated over 67 contests

Contests

in the data

First seen

Apr 19, 2013

latest May 4, 2019 · 6 years on the trail

Best ToY finish

#154

Master 2017 · every season

Grand champs

2 reserve

Category wins

20 podiums

Overall top-10s

39% of 67 contests

Best top-10 run

straight overall top-10s

Avg finish

top 35%

overall standings

Best overall

689.6456 / 720

Master · BBQ Jamboree

Perfect 180s

Current form

653.27 ▼

last 5 Master vs avg 657.84 (-4.57)

Walk rate

75%

contests with a top-10 call

Best single call

178.2972

Chicken · 2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition

Consistency

±16.58

spread of their Master overall scores (lower = steadier)

Strongest meat

Chicken

avg 167.38 · weakest Brisket (161.66)

Road miles

6,517

across 67 mapped stops · furthest 173 mi

Schedule strength

57%

of rated fields were softer than their average draw (1573)

State championships

0 🏅

won from 6 state-championship entries

Master avg

657.84 / 720

67 Master contests · 0 GCs

Storylines (17 found in their record)

Each card leads with the number behind the story, straight from their results.

The heartbreaker

3.3712 points from the title

Came within 3.3712 points of the Grand Championship at Beltway BBQ Showdown (Jun 9, 2017).

Among the elite

#435 of 6,491 rated teams

In the top 7% of every rated team in the data

A power rating of 1691 puts them #435 of 6,491 rated teams — the top 7% of the field.

rating 1691
peak 1733
67 rated contests

Happy hunting ground

Top 19% average finish here

Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest is their spot: an average finish in the top 19% across 4 visits.

4 visits
best finish 4th
average top 19%

They almost always walk

75% of contests with a top-10 call

A call in 50 of 67 contests

A top-10 category call in 75% of their 67 contests — they get to the stage more often than not.

High-water mark

689.6456 career-best overall

95.8% of a perfect 720

Their best day on record: 689.6456 at BBQ Jamboree — 95.8% of a perfect 720.

Master
May 13, 2016

The one to beat

4× one call ahead of them

OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE has finished one call ahead of LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER 4 times — their closest competition in the data.

Their season

2015 their best year

2015 was the year it came together: 11 contests, 0 Grand Championships and 2 category wins, at an average finish in the top 22%.

11 contests
7 overall top-10s
2 category wins
average top 22%

Show 10 more storylines

A tough matchup

38–10 behind in the head-to-head

3 EYZ BBQ ahead in 79% of their meetings

3 EYZ BBQ has come out ahead in 38 of their 48 shared contests.

The weak link

−5.7 points behind their best meat

Brisket is where the weekend gets away from them — it averages 5.72 points below their chicken, and turns into a call 21% of the time against 36%.

Brisket avg 161.66
Chicken avg 167.38
14 calls in 67 entries

A strong matchup

22–5 ahead in the head-to-head

Ahead in 81% of their meetings

They've finished ahead of SMOKETASTIC BBQ in 22 of their 27 shared contests.

Chicken nemesis

33 of 43 shared chicken entries lost

APORKALYPSE NOW ahead 77% of the time

Even in their strongest meat, APORKALYPSE NOW has out-cooked them in 33 of 43 shared chicken entries.

Going the wrong way

-39 rating points in a year

The rating has slipped 39 points across 8 contests since May 11, 2018 — from 1731 down to 1691.

8 contests since May 11, 2018
now 1691

Looking over their shoulder

3× one call behind them

LO' -N- SLO' BBQ has landed one call behind them 3 times.

A March team

Top 20% average finish in March

Something about March: average finish in the top 20% across 3 contests, versus top 35% the rest of the year.

3 March contests
top 35% the rest of the year

The long haul

6,517 road miles between contests

Contest to contest, they've covered roughly 6,517 miles across 67 mapped stops — the longest single trip being 173 miles to Almost Heaven BBQ Bash.

67 mapped stops
furthest 173 mi

The metronome

±2.30% swing around their own average

Their overall lands within ±2.30% of a perfect score of their own average — whatever the field, you know roughly what they'll turn in.

averages 91.4% of a perfect score
67 contests

A standing appointment

4 years running at one contest

They've cooked Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest every year from 2014 to 2017 — the contest they never miss.

4 visits in all
best finish 4th

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Year	Series	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
2018 ↗	Master	#542 (659 pts)	#535 (694 pts)	#504 (739 pts)	#546 (684 pts)	#388 (909 pts)
2017 ↗	Master	#154 (1,712 pts)	#159 (1,564 pts)	#138 (1,670 pts)	#199 (1,400 pts)	#182 (1,497 pts)
2016 ↗	Master	#179 (1,595 pts)	#175 (1,505 pts)	#96 (1,819 pts)	#84 (1,868 pts)	#328 (1,120 pts)
2015 ↗	Master	#235 (1,364 pts)	#86 (1,824 pts)	#187 (1,484 pts)	#373 (974 pts)	#284 (1,199 pts)
2014 ↗	Master	#311 (1,152 pts)	#257 (1,247 pts)	#387 (972 pts)	#284 (1,192 pts)	#357 (1,037 pts)
2013 ↗	Master	#664 (465 pts)	#667 (490 pts)	#723 (460 pts)	#545 (605 pts)	#622 (525 pts)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

The teams rated closest to LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER, each with one reason worth a look.

BULL CREEK BBQ

#432 of the rated field

1692 power rating

Contests: 79
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 37%
Peak: 1746

They've been 1746 at their best, 55 points above where they sit today — they're arriving at this rating from above.

rated over 72 contests
last seen Apr 11, 2025

⚔ Compare careers

TEAM WOODSHED

#434 of the rated field

1691 power rating

Contests: 54
GCs: 0
Top-10s: 35%
Peak: 1706

Careers of much the same size, 54 contests to 67, so neither rating has had more chance to settle than the other.

rated over 54 contests
last seen May 28, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

J & B'S BBQ

#436 of the rated field

1691 power rating

Contests: 84
GCs: 3
Top-10s: 49%
Peak: 1742

Their rating is built on 3 Grand Championships in 84 contests, alongside a 49% overall top-10 rate.

rated over 84 contests
last seen Apr 9, 2021

⚔ Compare careers

MEAT @ SLIMS

#433 of the rated field

1691 power rating

Contests: 42
GCs: 1
Top-10s: 55%
Peak: 1691

Both teams' first contest in the data came in 2013.

rated over 41 contests
last seen Jul 28, 2018

⚔ Compare careers

ELITE BBQ SMOKERS

#438 of the rated field

1690 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 215
GCs: 4
Top-10s: 32%
Peak: 1732

1–1 in 2 shared contests (50% to LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER)

2 contests in common so far: too few to settle anything, but a team LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER has actually stood beside rather than a stranger on the same rating.

rated over 207 contests
last seen Jul 24, 2026

⚔ Head-to-head

LEM'S MEAT VARNISH

#437 of the rated field

1690 ▼ 1 power rating

Contests: 64
GCs: 2
Top-10s: 75%
Peak: 1713

Level with LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER on power rating, which is the whole reason they're on the list.

rated over 62 contests
last seen Apr 28, 2023

⚔ Compare careers

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

Opponent	Meetings	Ahead	Behind	Win rate
ROCKIN ROBYNS BBQ	50	18	32	36%	⚔ compare
3 EYZ BBQ	48	10	38	21%	⚔ compare
OLD VIRGINIA SMOKE	44	12	32	27%	⚔ compare
APORKALYPSE NOW	43	8	35	19%	⚔ compare
PAVONE BROTHERS BBQ	42	18	24	43%	⚔ compare
CHECKERED FLAG 500 BBQ	42	13	29	31%	⚔ compare
JD'S SMOKIN MISFITS	34	23	11	68%	⚔ compare
WOLF'S REVENGE BBQ	32	6	26	19%	⚔ compare
SAUCE THIS BBQ	31	5	26	16%	⚔ compare
LO' -N- SLO' BBQ	30	10	20	33%	⚔ compare
4:20 Q	28	10	18	36%	⚔ compare
SMOKETASTIC BBQ	27	22	5	81%	⚔ compare
BIG UGLY'S BBQ - MD	27	10	17	37%	⚔ compare
BAR-B-QUE MAYHAM	26	17	9	65%	⚔ compare
Serial Griller	25	13	12	52%	⚔ compare

By meat

Category	Entries	Calls	Wins	Podiums	Best	Worst	Average	Avg finish
Chicken	67	24	2	7	178.2972	154.8456	167.38	top 35%
Pork Ribs	67	24	1	4	175.4400	138.8570	164.60	top 36%
Pork	67	22	1	4	175.4172	146.7772	164.19	top 39%
Brisket	67	14	1	5	176.5600	144	161.66	top 44%

“Calls” = top-10 category finishes (getting called to the stage). Scores here are the final weighted totals KCBS publishes; per-criterion appearance/taste/tenderness marks aren’t in the public results feed.

By field size and state

By contest size

Field	Contests	GCs	Avg finish
Medium (20–39)	26	0	top 37%
Large (40+)	41	0	top 33%

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Where	Contests	Avg finish
VA	28	top 38%
MD	18	top 35%
PA	12	top 29%
DE	7	top 27%
WV	2	top 47%

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

Contest	Visits	Best	Avg finish	Last visit
BBQ Jamboree (Day 2)	5	2	top 45%	May 4, 2019
Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest	4	4	top 19%	Oct 13, 2017
Boo-B-Que	3	7	top 22%	Oct 19, 2018
Smoke in the Park	3	5	top 28%	Sep 22, 2017
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	3	4	top 38%	Jun 2, 2017
Sam's Club National BBQ Tour	3	10	top 39%	Jun 10, 2016
Keystone Classic Barbeque	3	11	top 28%	Oct 2, 2015
Beltway BBQ Showdown	2	2	top 25%	Jun 9, 2018
BBQ Gives Back	2	8	top 26%	Mar 23, 2018
Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival	2	11	top 32%	May 6, 2016
Beltway BBQ Showdown	2	4	top 22%	May 29, 2015
Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival	2	20	top 41%	May 2, 2014

More numbers

Busiest season 2017 17 contests

Contests a season 9.6 across 7 seasons in the data

Most contests held in VA 28 of 67 contests · 5 states in all

Contests visited 45 12 of them more than once

Opponents faced 842 finished ahead 2,125 times, behind 1,030

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

20191 milestone

May 4 Most recent contest BBQ Jamboree (Day 2)

20181 milestone

Mar 23 Peak power rating (1733) BBQ Gives Back

20171 milestone

Jun 9 50th tracked contest Beltway BBQ Showdown

20162 milestones

May 13 First Reserve Championship BBQ Jamboree
May 13 Career-best overall score689.6456 BBQ Jamboree

20154 milestones

Apr 17 First category win (Chicken) 2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition
Apr 17 Career-best single call (Chicken)178.2972 2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition
Oct 16 25th tracked contest Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest
Oct 30 First overall podium Boo B Que By the Sea

20142 milestones

Jun 6 10th tracked contest Beltway BBQ Showdown
Aug 15 First overall top-10 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

20133 milestones

Apr 19 First tracked contest Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival
Jun 28 First call Hogging Up Virginia Bluegrass BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL)
Aug 16 First overall past 90% of a perfect score655.4056 Sam's Club National BBQ Tour

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

Swing	Contest	Date
+13.5	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest	Oct 17, 2014
+12.1	Boo B Que By the Sea	Oct 30, 2015
+11.4	Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival	Apr 10, 2015
+11.2	BBQ Jamboree	May 13, 2016
+11.2	Beltway BBQ Showdown	May 29, 2015

📉 Toughest weekends

Swing	Contest	Date
-16	BBQ Jamboree (Day 1)	May 3, 2019
-10.8	Smithfield BBQ Classic	Sep 28, 2018
-7.2	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional)	Aug 25, 2017
-6.9	Interstate BBQ Festival	Apr 14, 2017
-6.6	Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival	Apr 19, 2013

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Season	Contests	Top-10s	Category wins	Walk rate	Avg finish	Best overall (% of perfect)	Avg overall (% of perfect)
2019	2	0	0	0%	top 77%	92.2%	90.1%
2018	7	1	0	86%	top 44%	94.3%	91.9%
2017	17	9	1	76%	top 31%	94.4%	92.4%
2016	15	7	2	80%	top 29%	95.8%	92.3%
2015	11	7	2	100%	top 22%	94.2%	92%
2014	10	2	0	60%	top 37%	92.7%	89.1%
2013	5	0	0	40%	top 53%	91%	87.7%

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Date	Event	Overall	Chicken	Ribs	Pork	Brisket
May 4, 2019	BBQ Jamboree (Day 2) 🏅 Fredericksburg, VA	21 / 33 (663.9312)	20 (169.6800)	13 (171.4056)	17 (168.5600)	26 (154.2856)
May 3, 2019	BBQ Jamboree (Day 1) 🏅 Fredericksburg, VA	31 / 34 (632.9820)	19 (169.1084)	21 (162.2512)	28 (155.9540)	34 (145.6684)
Oct 19, 2018	Boo-B-Que Rehoboth Beach, DE	19 / 73 (666.7544)	16 (169.1200)	10 (170.2744)	39 (161.0856)	26 (166.2744)
Sep 28, 2018	Smithfield BBQ Classic Richmond, VA	30 / 41 (643.9088)	32 (157.7028)	11 (169.7028)	11 (167.3944)	40 (149.1088)
Sep 7, 2018	14th Annual Recovery Fest/8th Annual BBQ State Championship 🏅 Richmond, VA	15 / 29 (658.7656)	21 (162.2400)	22 (156.5256)	15 (168)	6 (172)
Jun 9, 2018	Beltway BBQ Showdown Upper Marlboro, MD	18 / 42 (649.6340)	17 (163.9656)	34 (149.1428)	12 (167.3828)	9 (169.1428)
May 12, 2018	BBQ Jamboree Double Day 2 Fredericksburg, VA	21 / 38 (664.5484)	15 (171.4056)	6 (172.0116)	33 (158.8684)	22 (162.2628)
May 11, 2018	BBQ Jamboree Double Day 1 Fredericksburg, VA	22 / 45 (667.8744)	5 (174.2628)	36 (157.1088)	36 (159.9428)	3 (176.5600)
Mar 23, 2018	BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA	8 / 75 (678.8000)	32 (166.8344)	15 (169.1544)	9 (170.2628)	7 (172.5484)
Oct 20, 2017	Boo-B-Que Rehobeth Beach, DE	7 / 69 (678.7884)	5 (174.2744)	22 (166.8228)	16 (169.1312)	14 (168.5600)
Oct 13, 2017	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA	11 / 30 (655.8628)	11 (168.5600)	24 (154.7772)	11 (166.2628)	6 (166.2628)
Oct 6, 2017	Keystone Classic BBQ Harrisburg, PA	9 / 39 (663.9428)	33 (158.7884)	13 (163.4516)	8 (170.8344)	3 (170.8684)
Sep 22, 2017	Smoke in the Park Lemoyne, PA	9 / 44 (665.0856)	28 (162.2628)	3 (170.8572)	16 (164.5600)	13 (167.4056)
Sep 8, 2017	13th Annual Recovery Fest/8th Annual BBQ State Championship 🏅 Richmond, VA	10 / 35 (669.6688)	6 (171.9772)	17 (166.3088)	10 (168.5256)	16 (162.8572)
Aug 25, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour (Regional) Richmond, VA	22 / 29 (661.6228)	18 (169.1312)	16 (166.8344)	17 (165.6800)	27 (159.9772)
Aug 4, 2017	Smithfield BBQ Classic Smithfield, VA	11 / 28 (665.6456)	12 (169.1200)	12 (166.8800)	8 (168.5256)	16 (161.1200)
Jun 16, 2017	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash Weston, WV	29 / 57 (661.1084)	23 (167.4628)	14 (171.4400)	42 (160.5256)	29 (161.6800)
Jun 9, 2017	Beltway BBQ Showdown Upper Marlboro, MD	2 / 29 (679.9428)	7 (170.8228)	11 (165.1200)	4 (171.4056)	1 (172.5944)
Jun 2, 2017	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Laurel, MD	4 / 28 (670.1712)	2 (175.4056)	5 (168.5600)	13 (165.0856)	18 (161.1200)
May 12, 2017	BBQ Jamboree- Day 2 (JUDGES FULL) Fredericksburg, VA	22 / 43 (656.9940)	20 (169.6800)	27 (159.3828)	9 (167.3712)	28 (160.5600)
May 12, 2017	BBQ Jamboree-Day 1 (JUDGES FULL) Fredericksburg, VA	5 / 54 (677.6568)	25 (165.6800)	2 (175.4400)	22 (166.8112)	8 (169.7256)
May 5, 2017	Naptown barBAYq Cooking Contest Crownsville, MD	13 / 37 (660.5712)	7 (170.2628)	8 (168.5600)	7 (169.7372)	28 (152.0112)
Apr 28, 2017	4th Annual Pickin N Pullin BBQ competition Lanexa, VA	9 / 46 (662.8232)	20 (166.8228)	8 (168.5716)	21 (161.6800)	11 (165.7488)
Apr 14, 2017	Interstate BBQ Festival Hagerstown, MD	35 / 58 (651.8284)	46 (158.8112)	14 (169.6916)	20 (166.8228)	43 (156.5028)
Mar 24, 2017	BBQ Gives Back Urbanna, VA	27 / 64 (655.3140)	51 (158.2512)	18 (168)	35 (163.3828)	23 (165.6800)
Mar 3, 2017	The Great Brunswick BBQ Throwdown Brunswick, MD	4 / 50 (677.6572)	4 (174.8572)	4 (172.5600)	20 (166.8572)	19 (163.3828)
Oct 21, 2016	Boo-B-Que Rehobeth Beach, DE	20 / 67 (653.0852)	17 (166.8456)	3 (171.4628)	30 (159.9540)	37 (154.8228)
Oct 14, 2016	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA	6 / 38 (672.4112)	9 (171.9656)	9 (167.9772)	9 (168.5256)	17 (163.9428)
Oct 7, 2016	Keystone Classic BBQ State Championship 🏅 Harrisburg, PA	10 / 47 (667.9660)	12 (170.2628)	20 (163.3944)	2 (172.0344)	18 (162.2744)
Sep 30, 2016	Que & Cruz Louisa, VA	10 / 31 (654.7312)	7 (171.4056)	16 (163.9772)	15 (162.2628)	16 (157.0856)
Sep 23, 2016	Smoke in the Park Lemoyne, PA	19 / 38 (653.0176)	20 (163.9772)	29 (157.6572)	3 (171.9772)	24 (159.4060)
Sep 9, 2016	12th Annual Recovery Fest/7th Annual BBQ State Championship 🏅 Richmond, VA	4 / 25 (677.0628)	3 (174.2972)	1 (174.2744)	8 (168.5600)	13 (159.9312)
Aug 12, 2016	Maryland State BBQ Bash Bel Air, MD	15 / 42 (666.1596)	14 (170.8228)	15 (169.1428)	18 (165.6800)	20 (160.5140)
Aug 5, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Laurel, MD	13 / 29 (655.9772)	18 (163.9772)	4 (173.7372)	10 (164.5600)	21 (153.7028)
Jun 17, 2016	Almost Heaven BBQ Bash Buckhannon, WV	18 / 42 (671.9544)	14 (170.8344)	32 (159.9772)	16 (169.1772)	12 (171.9656)
Jun 10, 2016	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	14 / 29 (653.6340)	2 (173.1084)	17 (158.8228)	14 (164.5484)	16 (157.1544)
Jun 3, 2016	Beltway BBQ Showdown Fort Washington, MD	5 / 37 (678.2856)	18 (162.8684)	4 (175.4172)	2 (175.4172)	13 (164.5828)
May 13, 2016	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	2 / 72 (689.6456)	11 (172.5600)	11 (170.8228)	1 (174.2856)	7 (171.9772)
May 6, 2016	Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival Annapolis, MD	11 / 51 (661.1428)	13 (167.4056)	5 (169.1544)	10 (165.7372)	26 (158.8456)
Apr 29, 2016	3rd Annual Pickin' N Pullin Lanexa, VA	8 / 48 (679.3944)	14 (169.1200)	4 (171.9772)	7 (170.8572)	13 (167.4400)
Apr 8, 2016	Triple Threat BBQ, Beer and Music Festval Harrington, DE	38 / 75 (636.4568)	52 (154.8456)	14 (169.1428)	46 (155.3828)	45 (157.0856)
Oct 30, 2015	Boo B Que By the Sea Rehobeth Beach, DE	3 / 59 (663.3940)	6 (168.5600)	5 (166.8800)	12 (162.8456)	16 (165.1084)
Oct 16, 2015	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA	5 / 37 (678.2856)	13 (165.6800)	6 (169.1656)	5 (168)	2 (175.4400)
Oct 2, 2015	Keystone Classic Barbeque Harrisburg, PA	11 / 57 (667.3372)	20 (165.6800)	6 (169.6916)	13 (166.8456)	19 (165.1200)
Sep 25, 2015	Smoke in the Park Lemoyne, PA	5 / 34 (662.8688)	1 (176.0116)	8 (165.7144)	13 (162.2972)	16 (158.8456)
Aug 21, 2015	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	10 / 30 (654.7884)	3 (172.5600)	4 (170.2628)	15 (158.2856)	22 (153.6800)
Jul 31, 2015	Southern Maryland Brew & BBQ Leonardtown, MD	29 / 54 (640.4340)	8 (170.2972)	25 (160.5256)	23 (162.2400)	43 (147.3712)
May 29, 2015	Beltway BBQ Showdown Ft. Washington, MD	4 / 39 (671.9656)	3 (172.5484)	9 (166.2744)	18 (158.2856)	3 (174.8572)
May 8, 2015	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	9 / 65 (669.0972)	10 (168)	7 (168)	17 (164.5372)	9 (168.5600)
May 1, 2015	Naptown barBAYq Contest and Music Festival Annapolis, MD	27 / 64 (646.1828)	15 (166.8344)	9 (168)	51 (153.0856)	41 (158.2628)
Apr 17, 2015	2nd Annual Pickin' N' Pullin BBQ Competition Lanexa, VA	9 / 46 (670.8344)	1 (178.2972)	9 (170.2628)	25 (161.6800)	14 (160.5944)
Apr 10, 2015	Triple Threat BBQ Beer and Music Festival Harrington, DE	14 / 99 (662.2968)	5 (175.4400)	14 (168.5828)	74 (153.1084)	25 (165.1656)
Oct 17, 2014	Shenandoah Valley BBQ Fest Woodstock, VA	4 / 40 (667.3256)	9 (168.5600)	12 (166.8228)	9 (167.4056)	14 (164.5372)
Oct 3, 2014	Keystone Classic Barbeque Harrisburg, PA	19 / 53 (650.1944)	16 (166.8456)	13 (165.7144)	38 (153.0972)	13 (164.5372)
Aug 22, 2014	New Holland Summer Fest New Holland, PA	12 / 70 (647.9200)	37 (158.2400)	40 (156)	5 (171.4172)	16 (162.2628)
Aug 15, 2014	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Harrisburg, PA	10 / 28 (650.2512)	4 (172.5828)	18 (154.8228)	6 (166.8800)	17 (155.9656)
Jun 27, 2014	Hogging Up BBQ Festival Winchester, VA	29 / 46 (631.3372)	22 (161.0740)	21 (160.0344)	22 (158.8344)	34 (151.3944)
Jun 6, 2014	Beltway BBQ Showdown Ft. Washington, MD	14 / 42 (645.6112)	21 (162.2284)	26 (156.5716)	13 (162.8228)	9 (163.9884)
May 9, 2014	BBQ Jamboree Fredericksburg, VA	35 / 64 (620.9944)	4 (170.2628)	37 (155.9544)	53 (146.7772)	45 (148)
May 2, 2014	Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival Annapolis, MD	20 / 59 (643.8852)	23 (161.0740)	20 (161.7028)	34 (156.5484)	15 (164.5600)
Apr 11, 2014	Delaware's Triple Threat BBQ Festival at the Fair Harrington, DE	59 / 109 (615.3828)	41 (158.8688)	83 (145.6684)	32 (160.5600)	68 (150.2856)
Apr 4, 2014	Rockahock's Pickin' and Pullin' Festival Lanexa, VA	14 / 41 (643.3372)	10 (165.1316)	11 (161.1200)	8 (164.5140)	24 (152.5716)
Oct 4, 2013	Keystone Classic Barbeque Harrisburg, PA	16 / 55 (641.6000)	26 (158.2400)	13 (162.2628)	17 (161.1200)	19 (159.9772)
Aug 16, 2013	Sam's Club National BBQ Tour Laurel, MD	16 / 29 (655.4056)	24 (157.1084)	11 (164.5944)	12 (164.0228)	5 (169.6800)
Jun 28, 2013	Hogging Up Virginia Bluegrass BBQ Festival (JUDGES FULL) Winchester, VA	16 / 26 (635.4278)	9 (168.5714)	25 (149.1426)	7 (165.7142)	20 (151.9996)
May 3, 2013	Naptown barBAYq Contest & Music Festival Annapolis, MD	27 / 55 (622.2858)	11 (167.4284)	44 (148.0002)	12 (162.8572)	47 (144)
Apr 19, 2013	Pork in the Park Barbeque Festival Salisbury, MD	75 / 106 (603.9998)	52 (157.7142)	95 (138.8570)	82 (147.4286)	22 (160)

LIFE IS GOOD BUT BBQ IS BETTER

At a glance (the record in numbers)

Power ranking

Rating

Contests

First seen

Best ToY finish

Grand champs

Category wins

Overall top-10s

Best top-10 run

Avg finish

Best overall

Perfect 180s

Current form

Walk rate

Best single call

Consistency

Strongest meat

Road miles

Schedule strength

State championships

Master avg

Storylines (17 found in their record)

The heartbreaker

Among the elite

Happy hunting ground

They almost always walk

High-water mark

The one to beat

Their season

A tough matchup

The weak link

A strong matchup

Chicken nemesis

Going the wrong way

Looking over their shoulder

A March team

The long haul

The metronome

A standing appointment

Team of the Year (rank per category by season — the year links to the full board on kcbs.us)

Overall rank by season

Teams like this (closest power rating)

Familiar foes (most-met opponents in overall standings — one meeting per contest)

By meat

By field size and state

By contest size

By state / province (where the contests were held)

Repeat visits (contests they've cooked twice or more)

More numbers

Milestones (the firsts, the round numbers and the personal bests)

Power rating over time (1500 = average; recomputed nightly)

📈 Biggest rating jumps

📉 Toughest weekends

Scores over time (% of a perfect score, averaged over 5 contests — tap a meat to add it)

Overall finish over time (top-% of field, lower is better)

Where they finish (overall)

Best vs average (by meat)

How entries end (by meat)

Season by season

Contest history (click a row for the event, a column to sort)

Career map (orange GC · green top-10 · grey the rest — tap a pin)